Whirlie-Wha (A) The last braw wedding that I was at Was on a Hallow day An' there was meikle meikle fun An' there was meikle play. The bells they rang the auld wives sang An' to the kirk went they a' The bride's to bed wi' the silly bridegroom To play wi' his whilrie-wha.-- . First she turn't her back to him An' syne she turn't her wame Lang she leuk't for kin'ness But kin'ness she gat nane.-- At length she's ta'en him in her arms Flung him again' the wa' Says lie ye there ye fumblin devil Ye've lost yir whirlie-wha.-- O wae light on my kith and kin They've done me meikle ill, They've married me to an auld man Fou sair again my will But I'll dress mysel in my ribbons sae green Nae lassie will be sae braw An I'll hire a bonny young lad o' my ain To play wi' his whirlie-wha.- ----- From the early 19th-century Cunningham MS., pp. 139-40; first printed in Legman's Horn Book (1964), 138-9; here from Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965), 125-6. Cf. B, from Buchan, 1832. No tune is indicated, and no air with this title has been found, but Legman finds it in the same rhythm, and possibly to the same tune, as "The Blythsome Bridal", q.v. This is, I think, not feasible. I would expect the present song to go to a regular 6/8 jig, whereas "The Blythsome Bridal" is a 9/8 (slip) jig. (Whence I have written a tune to fit.--tho the tune of "The Dundee Weaver" would fit nicely.) [P.S.: WBO has identified the required tune, dated to 1788.] In 3.2, Cunningham changed "harm" to "ill" (for the rhyme). "Whirlie-wha" is a sort of a nonce w ornament, thingamajig". Legman's connection with "whilliewha",="cheat" (followed by Randall) is evidently erroneous. An expurgation of st. 1 in Cunningham's ed. of Works (pub. Jack, c. 1850, II.93), with differs: 1.1 bridal 1.2 Hallowmass 1.3 routh o' drink and fun 1.4 And mickle mirth and play. 1.2 1.5 and the carlins 1.6 And the dames danced in the ha'; 1.7 bride went 1.3 8 In the midst o' her kimmers a'. MS apr00
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